nerve block

American  

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. an arrest of the passage of impulses through a nerve by means of pressure on the nerve or by injection of an anesthetic into or around the nerve.

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nerve block British  

noun

1. induction of anaesthesia in a specific part of the body by injecting a local anaesthetic close to the sensory nerves that supply it

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Etymology

Origin of nerve block

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Doctors performed a "phrenic nerve block procedure" on Bolsonaro to block his left phrenic nerve, after treating Bolsonaro's right one on Saturday.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

I was stunned when both my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon said that a nerve block would leave me pain-free for about three days, after which the worst of the pain would be over.

From Washington Post • May 6, 2022

“He played with a flak jacket from that point on, and also had a nerve block injection the day before every game,” BriseBois said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2021

It was only two years ago at Augusta National that Woods needed a nerve block just to hobble upstairs to the Champions Dinner, unsure he would ever play another round of golf.

From Washington Times • Apr. 10, 2020

In April, Parsippany, N.J.-based Pacira gained a new approval from the FDA allowing Exparel to also be used as a nerve block to curb pain in the shoulder region after shoulder surgeries.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2018